March Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide

Introduction

Now that we're firmly into 2005, and our Value Guide is coming off a superb update, it is a great time to assemble a new gaming system. As usual, our Value Guide takes both performance and price into consideration, and we're pinching every penny in search of a high-performance system for gamers on a budget. In a nutshell, the Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide delivers the system and gaming performance you want, but at a price that won't break the bank. The overall scenario is bit different than some of the other buyer's guides on Sharky Extreme, as we limit the budget to $1,000 in cold, hard cash while the goal remains the same: to assemble a kick-ass gaming system that will play today's hottest games and still have some power in reserve for tomorrow.

To do this, we pay special attention to the price-performance of each component, making sure to match them according to their value from an overall system performance standpoint. While not as fast or flashy as the Extreme or High-End Gaming Systems, our Value configuration may actually be the best deal of them all. If you're the type of gamer who counts your pennies before buying any new system, then get ready for a buyer's guide right up your alley.

Finding the best system components for a value gaming system is more difficult than simply picking the very best hardware money can buy, and it entails a great deal of concession on the part of the buyer. The $1,000 budget gets eaten up pretty quick, and slapping down the cash for a 21" LCD or 3.73 GHz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition would take care of it in very short order. When compiling our Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide, we try and find that happy medium between spending a fortune on a new PC, and being "penny wise/pound stupid", and getting stuck with obsolete hardware. Our value gaming PCs will still allow high-end gameplay, contains the CPU and 3D video power necessary to really push the framerates, and keeps a close eye on quality and features to boot. Rest assured we don't scour the bargain bins for out-of-date or low-end hardware, and instead stick to a name brand component mix that offers the best overall value.

Our first Value Guide of 2005 hit with a bang, and virtually rewrote the rules for what you could assemble for our budget. Virtually every performance component was upgraded, platform shifts took place, and both the AMD and Intel computers were quite close in overall performance and cost. There are a few times each year where the stars align and make buying a new value PC a real pleasure, and our last guide hit dead center. Naturally, this time out will be more sedate, but we're still looking to upgrade a few areas, and even managed to snag a few on our wish list. While not as radical departure as our last update, this may be an even better time to actually break open the piggy bank and nab a value gaming system.

As with all of our buyer's guides, we have made every attempt to confirm that the selected hardware is available at one or more of the largest and most popular (with Sharky readers) online retailers. Although the price stated in the guide may not be exactly match that of a specific online dealer, you can bet on finding a significant percentage of our component list in their catalogues and at similar price levels. The availability factor did not limit our choices, but we do sleep easier with the knowledge that interested buyers can find the same hardware selection at most of the large online vendors.

Value Gaming PC Budget: $1000

Case: Aspire X-Dreamer II (with 350W PSU)

Current Cost: $52
Months on list: 11
Price Change: -$3

The case is the core of any new system configuration, and should be one of the primary components in the overall design. No matter how large or small the budget, the system case should be given equal weight, and although we do get a bit more freedom with for our High-end and Extreme Buyer's Guides, even an entry-level gaming computer deserves a quality case. When it comes to value system enclosures, we need to balance retail price against features, aesthetics and potential upgrade space, and our current choice performs that juggling act with ease.

Aspire has really packed a lot into the X-Dreamer II case, and it looks and feels a lot more expensive than it actually is. This case includes a wide range of features, has a lot of expandability, sports a great design, and includes very impressive specifications for its price and class. The X-Dreamer II may be an entry-level case in terms of price, but this is not a "budget case" by any means. The X-Dreamer II has also been on the list for some time now, but with our $1K budget tightening up as we add new performance components, we're not rocking the boat.

The Aspire X-Dreamer II is a great-looking case no matter the price, and its slick metallic housing and side window really give it some outward appeal. This case is far more than just another pretty face, and the X-Dreamer II's has a ton of expandability, including 4x5.25", 2x3.5" (external), and 4x3.5"(internal) expansion bays. The X-Dreamer II's outer housing may turn some heads, but it is also quite functional and includes very useful onboard options. The unit has USB and audio jacks, automatic drop-down side doors, a see-through window panel, blue LED case fans, 6 LED indicator lights, and even a temperature display LCD for the hardcore enthusiast.

The X-Dreamer II also includes an Intel Pentium 4/AMD compatible 350W ATX power supply, which is on par with competitive entry-level units, and at only $52 for the whole deal, is a great fit for our budget. This model is also available in a wide range of colors, so you have more options than just the standard silver or black.

We've also noticed another value-priced case with a lot of internal real estate and a ton of good looks. The XG Sidewinder packs a lot of bang for the buck, and it's based on the same basic internal design as the popular XG Viper. It matches the X-Dreamer II in terms of internal specifications, has a killer silver outer housing with side window, and includes 3 default case fans and a 400W SATA-ready power supply. This is another great option for value case buyers who want a little pop for their gaming dollar.